Breaking Dawn Part 1: Trailer Anaylsis

To quote River Song... Spoliers! Yes, I will discuss Breaking Dawn bits, so if you don't want to know what happens, stop reading.

If you want to refresh yourself with the trailer, it's in the post below this one.

So the trailer... Getting hitched and knocked up never looked so exciting! And I don't mean that in an "I condone this behavior" type of way, but wow... the people who edited together this trailer really earned their paycheck.  Breaking Dawn is not a complicated book. In comparison to the other books in the saga, it's a bit longer, but not much more complex. The main component that covers every page with text is discussion about love, self doubt, self realization, emotion, and inner conflict. There's a wedding, a honeymoon, a transformation/birth, a threat, a battle (kinda), and a resolution, but the editors of the trailer made it look truly EPIC.

I still stand by that Breaking Dawn did not NEED to be broken into two films. I don't think Harry Potter 7 required a split into two films, but I really, really think it benefitted from two as it had so much ground to cover-- literally and figuratively. There was a massive journey, a search for multiple horcruxes, people and landmarks, there were various battles, new characters, and complex issues that require background introductions and time to digest (like horcruxes and hallows).  Breaking Dawn doesn't really have that complexity. Wedding, honeymoon, pregnant, horrific birth, new life, threat, resolution. There are complex emotions, but not complex plot points.

...That's not a criticism, just a comment. It didn't NEED to be split... but I don't think anyone will really mind, minus those naysayers who are sick of hearing about the phenomenon! They'll get over it... until then, putting Breaking Dawn out in two parts extends the franchise, appeases the fans with a longer shelf life for their obsession, and gives multiple more events for fans to interact with and get pumped up about (DVD releases, theatrical premieres, two more MTV Movie Awards instead of one, two more rounds of TV and print interviews, two years instead of one for merchandise production etc.). Business-wise its a smart move, and most fans will be stoked that they will see more of their favorite novels instead of coming to terms with the vast amounts of info that would have to be cut from the novel to fit into one film.

The split: I've heard it will be part one with Bella as a human, part two as a vampire. I'm guessing the last shot will be Bella opening her eyes-- blood red eyes; perhaps quickly preceded by a cooing baby and a love-struck werewolf downstairs, and I'm guessing that the beginning of Part 2 will begin with Jacob's Point of View... I'm still pondering how they'll do that, but I've some ideas.

Okay, onto the trailer; speculation can happen in the comments or in another post later if anyone feels so inclined :)

Opening screen: In the past, each film has had a color scheme to it (see the bottom of this post) I quite like the blood-red/pinkish hues they're going with here and the literal 'breaking dawn' of the light through the Summit logo.

Threat reminder: We are then giving an extended montage of images of the various characters and camps being presented with a document (we all know what it is, but it's not revealed yet). We start with the Volturi-- a great upshot as the doors open onto the thrones, depicting the Volturi as tall, dominant, and almost god-like; the framing in the door also provides ceremony and pomp, and the music begins to build here. It's rather epic already, and we're only :24 in. We're engaged, reminded about the Volturi threat (interesting that they're first--- Bad guys! Alert! This film has bad guys! It's not all about love!)

Parent reminder: Next it goes to the parents: I love how Charlie looks defeated. Grumbling, not so thrilled, but resigned, and Renee kind of smug (like in the book how she wasn't surprised, and told Bella she was expecting it), and pleased.

--- Cut to the release date ----- (oooo it's all red and black and gives a date to get excited about, and has the ambiguous "on November 18" building suspense (you ask, what? What? What's on November 18?!)

Other Love Reminder: Remember that other guy? Yup, he's still here too.  Shirtless, of course, and pissed that his love is marrying a Cold One. It's in the rain, perhaps echoing his emotions, his dad following him into the downpour, calling out to him, and Jacob just too angry to respond or care; immediately stripping and going wolf. We're reintroduced to this conflict, we are shown that he's upset and running away... and he's shirtless. Again.

The Reveal: Ooooo an invitation! Squeal! Emotional wedding!

--- cut to: "You are Cordially Invited"-- this is great; it breaks up the trailer, gives the viewer pauses and beats to engage with the material, and it directly involves the viewer/fan in the trailer. On November 18, YOU are invited ----

Now it all gets a bit fast...

Shot of the aisle, guests strewn around-- I've two things here

1) It's quite identical to the images splattered around the internet of inspirations for a Twilight wedding; it incorporates the beautiful outdoor elements alluded to in the text, really bringing the lush nature established in Hardwicke's Twilight through to this fourth installment; this is a good matching of textual description and audience expectation.

2) Did you catch Stephenie Meyer, Wyck Godfrey (producer) and Melissa Rosenberg (screenwriter) in the congregation? In front of Boo Boo Stewart, second to last row, on the left. Cute.

Shot of Bella gripping Charlie's arm: even the nervous energy Stewart emits screams Bella; shots to her ring, to her 1918-esque hair comb, huge, epic choir music beginning to build, operatic voices enter and build... all of these elements rise to the big reveal of:

The reluctant but stoked bride.

Cut to:

"From the World Wide Bestseller" -- this gives another beat, and restates the drama, the epic-ness of this story, and it establishes the continuing phenomenon.

Rio: The next shot of Rio de Janeiro introduces the entry to the honeymoon location (true to the book), and incorporates the first dialogue of the trailer (of course it's Pattinson/Edward). "We'll start with forever"... I'm guessing these are his vows.

The Headboard: Of course that had to be in the trailer... the hottest PG-13 moment in teenage girl history. And we've seen the shot with the feathers, so we know that makes it into the film as well (this is definitely a match of fan expectation here; you better believe fans will be looking forward to their first moments together). So we've got smashing headboards, shots of them in bed, and then cutting to red words on a black backdrop: 

----FOREVER---

Then a beautiful, idyllic shot in the waterfall....

----IS ONLY THE BEGINNING--- it sounds sweet, doesn't it? But actually, it's a transition tool to bring THE THREAT back into the shot as we immediately cut to one pissed-off Volturi, a PJ-clad, worried Edward, a dejected and wandering Jacob, people being thrown all over the place, and then... the music dies down... and we get this:

Our girl is knocked up. Good dramatic cap to the building tension, building music, they quickly take us through the wedding, the honeymoon, the conflicts and  the threat... and then lay on the crazy element of a vampire pregnancy. She's stunned, but seems in awe with the fact (in line with the book) and then there's Edward:

How's that for a "man on fire" look? He looks slightly constipated, but I think you can begin to see that Dad is not very thrilled about this fact...

Cut to:

Titles (just in case you weren't sure which trailer you were watching) and I enjoyed the well-timed chimes-- chime 1 for the title, chime 2, about two seconds later, for the "Part 1." Even just stating the "Part 1" aspect raises the stakes as it leads the viewer to expect something epic, a la Harry Potter 7: 1.

All in all, it's a well put together trailer that makes teenage marriage and a surprise baby seem like the plot of a Die Hard movie.

I certainly have my reservations, but I'm still stoked and rather happy with the look and pace of things thus far. But reservations-- I think this book was a fun read, but it read like fan fiction a lot of the time-- which I thoroughly enjoyed; it's fun to spend time with your characters and go on pages and pages of exploration into their head-- but it's not as plot driven as the other books. I think splitting it into two could be problematic, and I'm guessing that they will spend a lot of the first movie re-establishing the threat of the Volturi, and cutting away to introduce the extended coven that will play a larger role in part 2 (The Denali clan, the Amazons, the Irish posse etc.).

We shall see, eh? Until then, I'm thesis-ing my FACE off (not really, but it feels like it), trying to finish by September. I'll be presenting on adaptation at Leaky Con this summer and leading a workshop there (anyone coming?), and things are really starting to roll with Elfin Productions, more on that soon too.  So, as I finish up my thesis, the next chapter of life is beginning.

 I'm glad that my next life-chapter doesn't involve a vampire baby.

(p.s. All screenshots taken from the IMDB spotlight trailer) 

Just in case you haven't seen it yet...

The first Breaking Dawn trailer has hit the internet and all are in a kerfuffle over busting headboards and Little Nudgers :)

Link to the trailer here, or you can just watch it below 

I'm going to take a break from PhD Thesis Land later today or tomorrow to provide a little trailer analysis since I haven't done that in an age and there's all sorts of fun stuff to discuss with this. It'll be a nice distraction from genre theory and practical applications of adaptation and remediation on popular event film culture....zzzzz... yup... welcome to my life.






Watch out for the cameo of Wyck Godfrey (producer), Melissa Rosenberg (screenwriter), and Stephenie Meyer (if you need me to tell you who she is, I'm not really sure why you're at my blog :) at the wedding scene. Back row, on the left.

The Royal Wedding

Can this shot BE more British?

I'm departing a bit from my normal film analysis/industry observations, because I think it's also important to occasionally acknowledge the other aspect of my life which is of an American studying abroad in the UK.  It was this aspect that was in full, fabulous light this past weekend as I was in London to join with the world in celebrating the marriage of Catherine Elizabeth and William Arthur Philip Louis :) 

It. Was. Brilliant.

I got down there on Thursday evening and met up with my pal Lindsey, a royal-aficionado (really, it was like having my own personal pop up video of royal history and even gossip; fun!).  I was staying at her place right next to Victoria station. Thursday was chill; a glass of wine, pad thai, and discussion about the following day's plans. We knew we had to get there early, but didn't feel it was necessary to join the masses camping out on the parade route. We're keen, but not so keen that we needed to pitch a tent for the night :) 

Tent City by Westminster

We did, however, take a stroll down to Westminster to see the action, the preparations and decorations, and take a look at where it would all go down the next day. This was my first hint at the fun to come.  Everyone was so happy. Enthusiastic, polite, buzzing, but more than anything else, HAPPY. It was great! There was a media village put together of vans, reporters, camera and sound people, tons of tents, and wandering enthusiasts breaking into cheers, high fives, and lovely conversations. People were nothing but pleasant, and there was a real sense of community in those little makeshift towns. It was fabulous.

Ahh...perfect picnic

Then we prepped our picnic for the following day (tuna sandwiches, Victoria sponge cake, scones, strawberries and cream, bubbly... can you GET more British?), and then went to bed, as our wake up call was 6am! 

We figured we'd head to Green Park tube station and see where the crowds were wandering too. We wanted to be by a big screen so we could see everything, and were more interested in that than being on the parade route where we'd have to camp out all day for only a possible glimpse as they rode/drove by.

Our spot (and after access was closed, obvi)

So coming out of the tube station, straight in front of us, was a flippin' HUGE screen, and a barely-filled field. So that was our home for the next seven hours! Blanket laid, picnic prepped... we were ready. The coverage started shortly after that, and more, and more people began filling up the previously empty park. I went for a wander to Buckingham Palace (about 100 yards away), saw the parade route, the crowds already five deep at 8am, Union Jack flags everywhere, and more children in tiaras and princess gowns, women in wedding dresses, men in full suits of armor... it was fab! 

Shiny armor

Best. Dress. Ever.

I really love any situation where this many people come together and are enthusiastic about a positive thing. The crowds at Twilight events, fans at Harry Potter releases, and a country on a wedding day! We became pals with those around us, enjoyed watching the little girl in front of us wearing her flag dress, and cheering with the crowds as excitement built.

The viewing party

When William left Clarence House everyone cheered, when the first shots of Westminster appeared there were oohs and ahhhs, and the crowning moment (pardon the pun) was when Kate stepped out of the car. I'm not gonna lie, and this will sound cheesy, but honestly she stepped out, and then the sun came out. The whole park looked up at the sky and then broke out into cheers. It was amazing! People are making cheesy claims about 'it being Diana' which may be true for those that wish to believe it, but regardless... it was a very WOW moment. Her dress was stunning... I still think she was a little too skinny (apparently she was surviving on Winegums during the week before the wedding; William said she was too nervous!), but hot damn she wore that dress well. Her arms looked gorgeous in the lace, hair, makeup, and a blingin' tiara didn't hurt the look either :) Beautiful!

Props Pippa, props...

I think Pippa deserves an award for having the most challenging dress (it's not easy to move in a mermaid tail!), wearing heels, and holding the hands of three year-old flower girls down an aisle, bending down to get the train... she definitely had the trickiest jobs, I think!

I love a little pomp and ceremony, and the fanfare really set that off. We bought a bunch of programs (for ourselves and family souvenirs), so we could sing along with the hymns, read along with the prayers, it really gave a feeling that we were at the service too; talk about participatory culture! It felt like the sanctuary extended to every park/television screen that was watching, particularly when you're watching it with thousands of reacting people; cheering, singing, dabbing away tears, and popping bubbly.

The bubbly bit was a favorite moment. It was during the vows, when they said 'I know pronounce you man and wife,' and throughout the entire park you just heard cheers and 'Pop! Pop! Pop!' It was fabulous. So we poured our bubbly in our Union Jack cups, sang the national anthem, and then treated ourselves to lunch and a Victoria sponge cake whilst we waited for the kiss.

British Queuing at its finest

Side story: I love the British and their queuing ability. Anywhere else that would have been a disorganized mess; but no, it was lovely. It was waiting in this queue that I also realize how bloomin' close we were to the action. I looked to my left, and there was the Queen Victoria memorial, which is the fountain right in front of Buckingham Palace where tons of people were now crowing around to watch the kiss. Another side note, I also loved how calmly everyone walked down the Mall to the palace; it was orderly, sedate, and there were no mobs, shoving, or stampedes. Yay!

Of course the kiss was adorable, and it was pleasant to be treated to two! My fave moments of that whole part though were when Kate first stepped onto the balcony and said, "Oh wow!" It was a very human moment. And also when William looked at her and said, "Shall we do it again" followed by the second kiss. Uber cute, and such fun to have the crowd's reaction. 

Lastly, I got super teary when the planes flew overhead.  These old planes which helped save the UK during World War 2, alongside the new-era protective planes, closely followed by the yellow Sea King helicopter that William flies in (with my friend Ally as his captain who was invited to the wedding itself, actually; so it was fun having a friend on the inside to spot on TV and hear stories about the inside after the fact)... anyway... I got teary at the planes. Also because we were watching them in the screen, and then all of a sudden there they were, over our heads! We were watching exactly what they were watching... So close! Oh it was so exciting.

I just can't get over how happy, friendly, and united everyone was. We hear nothing but gossip and disaster and blerg-ness on the news, so it was fabulous to have a bit of pageantry, camaraderie, politeness, and a shared enjoyment of a wedding; even for just a moment to come together over something centered around love, history and pageantry, but also looking forward into progression, hope/future of the monarchy and faith in humanity type stuff.... heady, I know, but SUCH fun.

"It should have been me" Cute.

The rest of the day was celebrating, of course. Bubbly and strawberries on the roof deck, a pint in the local, and watching updates all day long about the wedding, and the couple's current movements. I'm so glad I went; definitely a wonderful life experience, I'll remember it forever, and it renewed my faith in humanity a smidge. That whole huge day with no mishaps except smiles on our faces :)

Celebratory pub

Swag I purchased: programs, key chains, a mug, four biscuit tins, a replica of her ring (yup; cheesy I know, but it makes me smile :)

I realize they're money-makers blah de blah, but you know what? They're also keepsakes and story-starters. Well worth the few quid I spent!

Sigh... now back to reality, production progressions, international interviews, life decisions, house hunting, and oh yeah.... thesis-writing.

 

THOR: One Thunderous god

So previews for Thor started last night in the UK, and how on earth could I NOT go?! Superheros and pre-release and supernatural awesomeness... oh my!

Firstly, there was a trailer for Captain America, and I've just been hanging onto that blog post. I was able to visit the set of Captain America in November, but I had to sign my life away and am sworn to secrecy until its released... sorry! But it was super exciting to see on the big screen, mostly to see some of the scenes that I saw being filmed but now with all of the finalizing and special effects added in. It looks amazing.

Right, so that was fun, but back to THOR! I had absolutely no preconceptions, which I'm starting to love when going into a superhero movie. I knew Branagh was directing (weird, right? From the otherwise classic Shakespearean-type actor), Natalie Portman was the girl, and Thor looked hot. Plus he was Chris Hemsworth, the guy from the beginning of Star Trek, and I'm a fan of that.

So initial reactions? It was bloody brilliant! I like the more fantastical/mythical elements of this story (grounded in Norse myth; Iron Man can't quite vouch the same saga-esque beginnings), and the parallels of the fantasy world with the known world-- i.e. a Portal Fantasy.  The film was fun, with great timing by the actors with comic jokes and good pacing from the script writers; the characters are well-developed and fun from the headstrong Thor to his goofy but loyal friends, and the tortured good/bad Loki; there were shiny costumes involving cloaks, ab-plates, and flannel, beautiful special effects (I loved the rainbow road, the traveling between worlds, the clouds, and the cosmos), and overall it was a fun, escapist but satisfying way to spend an evenint!

Favorite things:

Characters- Thor was bordering on hysterical genius when he was first stuck on Earth.  Bumbling through a hospital, smashing a coffee cup on the floor of a diner and demanding another (in true Viking style), and his slow but steady journey to worthy and good god/leader.

His buddies at the window when they arrive to help him cracked me up... Erik (Stellan Skarsgard) of course is the stereotypical casting choice for anything involving Norse/Viking backgrounds, but it works a treat and I loved him after he and Thor went drinking.  Classic. 

The Hammer- It would have been so easy to make that bit of wood and metal look cheap and cheesy, and it was awesome. I was reminded of Captain America's shield and I know the work that went into that, so I assume it was a similar process for the hammer. It rocked! Super badass, I loved that it had a loyalty to its owner and power in the hero's hand (similar to Sting, Excalibur, sword of Gryffindor, the million other mythical weapons), and when he whirled it around to make a cyclone-- kickin'. 

Set Design- the town in New Mexico was atmospheric, and realistic, but looked dressed enough that it allowed you to suspend some belief. The distressed signs were a little too quaint, the barber shops and cafes a little too designed so that you could believe it was an easy lead-in to a replica in an amusement park. Contrast to that was the stunning world of Asgard.  It was like Rivendell, but more blingin'. Lots of gold, silver, prismic glass and technological aspects that were more Star Wars than Middle Earth. It was hard to tell where the set ended and the CGI began, and that is a feat unto itself.

Storyline- I liked how so many elements were handled, how loose ends were tied up, but also how small elements were referred to and introduced that we know come from the Marvel universe and could lead into The Avengers.  There was a reference to Stark Enterprises weapons technology, Samuel L. Jackson appears, as does SHIELD and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) who we know will be in The Avengers. 

Sweet!

Music- I'm a sucker for a good score, and whilst I think some of the soundtrack choices are a bit off, the themes and background score from Patrick Doyle (HP: GOF, Eragon, Calendar Girls, etc.) were lovely.

Not so Favorite Things:

I have to say the only real negative I have is the women in the film.  Yes, one of his pals was a kickass woman, Sif (Jaimie Alexander), but she still had to wear a teeny miniskirt (lame) and played backup to the other four men in these scenes; and Natalie Portman was a genius astro physist-- great! Really, she's got brains, good, cool, nice... but then she goes gooey within ten seconds of seeing Thor, compromises herself for him, abandons self preservation and the potential future continuation of her work by taking him to the SHIELD-covered site where his hammer is located, and she continues to be a bit panicky, weepy, pathetic/in need of rescue. Blerg.... So close, Marvel, so close...

That's all I'm gonna say at this point. I've gotta see it again, and don't wait to give any spoilers before my friends can see it; they may kill me if I reveal too much.

In the meantime, Joss Whedon and co. are starting up with The Avengers now (oh, and by the way, make sure you stay through the credits at the end of Thor-- it's worth it), and that shall be the next major excitement/goal post for Superhero movies I think :) Win! 

Travel, Jobs, Writing... sanity? What's that?

The view out of my window at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

I'm summing up me in a few lines, then will move onto other interesting bits, so skip this part unless you really do fancy hearing about my nutso life at the moment! I'm currently working about six jobs, and they're all kicking my ass. I'm loving and committed to them all at the moment, however, so I shall deal with the insanity for a few more months whilst I finish this blasted PhD and then winnow down to two jobs.

So, jobs: International Welfare assistant, Central's International Program assistant, student warden (like an R.A.), PhD student, International Student Ambassador, and head of development for Elfin productions (Yes, it's official!).  The last three are the real time-consumers, and the last two are the ones that will most likely become permanent. I won't be an 'ambassador', but I'll still travel to the US to discuss UK education as I'm really committed to sharing the opportunities, particularly at Bangor, of studying in the UK, and I'm absolutely committed to development for Elfin. It's my dream job; reading scripts, finding talent, making stories better, considering ways to strengthen characters and aspects of the story, finding dream projects to add to the list of eventual adaptations and discover hidden projects from talented individuals... I love it.

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel- like the Tower of Terror :)

SO... what have I been up to right now? I'm traveling the US on behalf of Bangor University attending fairs, talking to students, teaching classes about film adaptation and how to get into film, and catching up with family and friends. Love. Oh yeah, and writing my thesis in every spare second.  I started in LA, then San Francisco, Portland OR, New York, now I'm in Boston, and up to New Hampshire on Thursday before returning to Wales. 

Ahhh iconic

In LA I had a few film meetings, met some prospective writers, discussed potential films and projects with producers and companies... it was really interesting. It was definitely inspiring, but you can also see how much work needs to happen before anything can more forward. I'm quite used to the UK system, well, at least the UK system that I've been exposed to, that what you propose, you actually plan to move forward with.  Some of the meetings I absolutely believed that sentiment. The participants were committed, deadlines would be met, and this could happen... others it was a 'who are you and wouldn't it be nice if we could do something...' and I feel like many people in the industry could spend their entire lives in meetings... with no production! Hours and hours of script development, treatment creation, meetings, coffees, chats, ideas, thoughts, funding prospects... very, very few things are a done deal. Ever. But honestly, it's okay.... it's all part of the process :)

Me and the professional Disney-goers

In this random, somewhat scattered post, I'm gonna throw out my thoughts that came up about a film's adaptation and my trip to Disneyland. So I'm going to Harry Potter world this summer for Leaky Con, I've certainly been to Disney World many times whilst growing up, and I realized a childhood dream by going to Disneyland for the first time EVER two weeks ago.  It was SO much fun. I had a meeting that morning with a producer who has done a few Disney and Disney-esque productions so I was already in the mood from being inspired to making feel-good films, and the gang I went to the park with were professional Disney-goers. They knew the layout, we had goals, a plan, we could recite the elevator monologue at The Haunted Mansion, and there was a scheduled churro time. Love it. It was amazing. SO much fun. We did Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones (loved it... particularly the boulder part), Pirates (weird to see Johnny Depp on the ride, as I haven't seen it since the post-film refurbishment), The Matterhorn, and, my favorite, The Haunted Mansion.

Haunted Mansion. Love it.

So let's break these down: The Haunted Mansion was made into a film, although a somewhat unpopular one. It mad a ton of cash (made $178 million on a $90 million budget), Indiana Jones was a film first and then a ride where Harrison Ford appears in the ride, telling you what to avoid and what to do during your adventure, and of course, the fabulous chaos that has exploded from the very successful Pirates films. The pirates ride was just as lovely as I remember it from my childhood trips to Disney World, but this time there were four Johnny Depps around, a teeny story line about trying to find and catch him throughout the ride, and a quick flash to Davy Jones. I can handle those minimal changes to my childhood memories. Much like a decent adaptation, I understand the evolution of the story to incorporate new fans, and the expanding necessities that come along with a visual media (film) affecting other remediations of that story... there are different pictures in people's minds when they think about Pirates of the Carribean, so the ride should reflect that; so whilst it was new and weird... it was also okay.

But aside from the big shiny rides, you can't help but notice some of the other bits and bobs... and changes... that have happened. There was a new Tangled Ride, A New Orleans type area that was straight from The Princess and the Frog, and The Swiss Family Robinson house (a film I grew up on, and it was vague-enough that I could truly lose myself as a child in this magical tree house) is now Tarzan's tree house. Awha?? Apparently kids don't know about The Swiss Family Robinson anymore... harsh. 

There was something so lovely about an entire place that allows you, as a "grown up" to completely lose yourself in a story, in a set, in props, paint, fake cobwebs or facsimile mine shafts and succumb to giggles, shrieks, laughter, and just a darn good time with friends, in a lovely location, experiences rides and shows based off of films and stories from other walks of life. It's a remediation of a that you can participate with and experience as a player in the story (Indiana Jones) or as a tag-along observer (Pirates, Haunted Mansion). There's a sublime pleasure in that!

So I'm stoked to see Harry Potter's Wizarding World, particularly during Leaky Con, with thousands of the most focused and die-hard fans around, when the final, FINAL film is released. It's most definitely going to be an experience, and I'm ready to hang up my analytical, PhD hat for a smidge and just be a carefree goon again, but also to see a different remediation of a beloved text (yes... there will be some minimal analysis) :)

Sorry, that's it for now! Need to go to bed! I'm doing a NACAC fair in Boston tomorrow and Wednesday all day, then teaching at Waltham High School and Wellesley College on Thursday, then heading up to New Hampshire for some serious thesis work and teaching at Plymouth State and Dartmouth on Monday. Win! Busy as bugger, but it's super fun. It's nice to talk to students about what I've done, what I'm doing now, and  how I didn't have a plan for any of it... I just kept following my gut and bliss (to quote Joseph Campbell) and it's taken me somewhere I love, with projects I can pursue, be proud of, love and create, but also pay the bills, travel, and look beyond the shiny veneer.  

Things I'm contemplating discussing here (feel free to weigh in):

Hunger Games (casting, my work with the series, etc.)

How books are found by filmmakers

Thesis writing (not likely until the bugger is done; I don't really want to spend a ton of external time pondering it!)

The Twilight Illustrated Guide

My co-edited Twilight Anthology of Essays (with the publishers finally!)

Superman (new film coming out)

Captain America, Thor, Avengers... those are stewing

Cult Projects (With ComicCon coming up I've been thinking about cult films: Rocky Horror, Dr. Horrible, Boondock Saints...)

Controversial Adaptation: Atlas Shrugged; why some are made, and made in a certain way

Development: What goes into it

The musings continue... my next few posts are bound to be random, scattered, or reactionary... that seems to be all my brain can handle! At least for the next six months or so whilst this blasted PhD is finished!

To finish, a site that brings me sanity... the Oregon coast. Siiigh :)

Update on the life of a (nearing the end?) PhD student...

My PhD in dry-erase board form

Yes, I know it's March. Yes, I know I haven't posted since January. Yes, I'm sorry. But you know what? LAST SIX MONTHS OF MY PhD! I've been told for years that this is when it truly gets crazy, and you know what? It's true. It's not like the work has escalated; that's always been there, that's always been a constant. But  my relationship to the work has gotten crazier. Some days its a good relationship, some days its a bad one, and after the bad days it somehow cajoles you back and you're sucked into its clutches again... sigh. All I know is that I considered giving up wine for Lent (I'm not really all that religious, I just like the challenge) and then I giggled... 'cause that's not gonna happen for a few months.

Anywho, PhD is.... going... I'm not going to say well or poorly, it's simply going at this stage. My one piece of advice to people considering a PhD? Make sure you LOVE your topic. There's no way I could make it through this process if I wasn't a huge fan of films, and truly interested in the adaptation processes of popular literature.

So, no big news or film thoughts at the moment. I think I'm currently working five jobs: PhD student, International Student Ambassador, International Office assistant, International Office Welfare Officer, Warden. PhD is the only full time job; the others are as needed... the things you do to make it through!

www.elfinproductions.com

There have been some rather awesome developments in my film world, however. It looks like I may have a definite dream job lined up post-PhD, and possibly two. I'm going to hold off a tiny bit longer until I announce anything, but methinks it'll be swell and add all sorts of dimensions to my understanding of the filmmaking process.  And it might just start with an 'E' and end in an 'lfin' :)

I'm currently writing up a chapter about fans' uses of fansites, Facebook and Twitter, as well as the case study section of Twilight's adaptation from the film maker's point of view. Fans will be next, and then what those two aspects together created.

My life... at least it looks like Hogwarts

Side-note- I'm heading to LA at the end of the month for some film meetings, then doing some recruiting for my University in Portland OR, NYC, Boston, and New Hampshire. CanNOT wait to get Stateside and write up some of this thesis from favorite pubs, coffee shops, and friend/family homes. YAY.

Keep on keepin' on, folks. I'll try to. In the meantime, I'm eternally grateful for Gilmore Girls, Firefly, Masterchef, Doctor Who, and sudoku. They keep me going :-D

The REAL King's Speech

I just had to share... how fab is this? I love comparing the original to the copy; it's a real-life adaptation. I think Colin Firth's stammer was quite a bit more prominent than this, but you can still see the difficulty in getting the words out, and the mannerisms to get through the speech (the rolling on the feet, pausing etc.).  It's also interesting to see the faces of the audience. Certainly not inspired... patient perhaps? I also wonder if it is edited; it jumps quite a bit, and that could be down to rudimentary filming techniques, or from editing to minimize the pauses?

The first two minutes are pretty painless (unlike the film where the stammer starts right off the bat). But after the two minute mark, you start to see the difficulty in getting through the speech.

And the trailer below has some of this speech in it.

A Week with Film Agency for Wales

So I'm in Cardiff this week, where I haven't been for about nine years, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it! The Film Agency for Wales was kind enough to have me 'round for a week of script development experience. Thus far it's been bloody brilliant! I can't talk about specific scripts, but it's been rockin' to see how things come together, how stories get funded, and how many people are involved in the daily process and creation of a film.

Yesterday I met Tracy Spottiswoode and Adam Partridge, and they investigated my purpose for the week, and what I hoped to get out of it. Honestly, I was just looking for some experience and exposure.  Whilst doing a PhD involving film practice, it's hard sometimes to put what you're doing into context. It's very easy to get stuck in the theory and discussion, and forget how it actually happens, so I was super grateful just to sit quietly at a desk and see how the office functions. 

But I'm getting a heck of a lot more than that.

On just the first day I went along with Tracy and Adam to meet with a writer that they are interested in supporting. The agency supports Welsh talent or projects, basically, but it is quite competitive and thus far I've been most impressed that what they focus on is the STORY. Not the product tie-ins, not the marketing,  not the money-making pitch, it's about the story; the characters, the voice... it's refreshing to hear so much care and interest about the projects! The writer just spoke for about 30 or 40 minutes about three ideas she had mulling around in her head, and after each one, we would list pros and cons, references to things that might help her develop the ideas into a tight, cohesive script. The whole meeting was just a focused, organized brainstorming session about how to make neat ideas better. Fab.

Today was all in the office, more 'mundane' work but I still found it infinitely interesting as I could see what projects are on their slate, what the range of topics they focus on (everything from comedy to musicals, documentaries and fiction), and the range of funds required for involvement as well as full, detailed budgets and how funds are dispersed once a film starts making money (assuming it makes money!). 

So I've read six scripts thus far, I've three more to read tonight, and the next three days are filled with development meetings. I'm wicked grateful for the opportunity, and I hope they don't mind me being around! Plus they're so stinkin' nice! Yay UK Film culture. They're wicked supportive and friendly thus far... I'm gonna stick with the conviction that they're all nice and supportive.  I'm loving sitting in on these meetings and being encouraged to share my thoughts as well, thus making me contemplate some more work in script development after the PhD is done. We shall see...

Added bonus? It's like two blocks from Torchwood's base :)

More at the end of week, most likely!

The King's Speech

Oh The King's Speech. It was beautiful. I love historical dramas. Full stop. I love them. When you take a historic moment in time with which we are all familiar, like the start of WW2 (no, I wasn't alive then, but we all know the basics), and give me a personal story of trials and triumph, Colin Firth is involved, and then you throw in Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and the monarchy? I'm donefor. I'm in. Take me away I need to see it. And oh boy did The King's Speech deliver. You really don't need to me say that, you've seen the nominations and reviews, but there were a few cinematic moments and story telling scenes I wanted to point out.

I loved the 'in this space we are equals' sentiment.  If the King of England (or soon to be) wanted anything accomplished, he had to be on the same level as the common man. He had to do silly things like roll around on the floor and scream out of the window; it made the monarch human. As a side note, I really wish it was socially acceptable to have curse words coming out of your phone, because if it were, I would have Colin Firth screaming obscenities as my text alert tone. Brilliant.  

The conversation shots in Lionel's office between Firth and Rush were also beautiful. It's a medium-wide shot with the subject off center, and a sparse and deteriorating background (the paint is peeling off in layers). This shows the subject, but shows it as slightly off; something is wrong (speech impediment? Fear? Lying about qualifications? Distant? Unsharing? Guarded?). The cut-away quick editing effect also illustrated that nothing was seamless. Everything took effort, as did every word that left Bertie's lips. 

The score was GORGEOUS. Well done Alexandre Desplat. You are quickly growing in my list of genius composers (Twilight fans, he did New Moon and Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, 1 & 2). I can't stop listening to 'The King's Speech' (name of the track) and Beethoven's Symphony no. 7, 'Speaking Unto Nations'- yes, this is Beethoven, not Desplat, but it's still gorgeous, and tells a story in this score. Simple progression that is thematic enough to remain consistent and familiar to the listener, but unique enough to allow the listener to identify which emotion and story element that music accompanied. Lovely!

Some of the imagery of tiny elements was also great.  The size of the microphones he had to deal with; they were imposing, dominating most of the frame, and intimidating. They honestly looked like a threat, and the settings where they were located, were open (the cavernous room where his father gave the Christmas address), or full of expectant listeners (the stadium). This made him more vulnerable, under scrutiny, and the awkward pauses oh so much more awkward.  Thus I loved the room that Lionel had created for the King's speech at the end. He made it feel 'cozy' and therefore slightly less frustrating. The king found his voice, Lionel found a job, a Queen helped her King rise to his position, and a nation found a monarch of which it could be proud. Rockin'. Well done.

I think I need to re-watch Firth's Golden Globe acceptance speech now. I love the "surprisingly robust triangle of manlove." Lordy... lovely.

So yes, I LOVED the King's Speech, and want more. ASAP. I think I may have to see it again this weekend... lush.

Black Swan... no one warned me that it was a horror film!

Just a quickie, because I needed to hash out some thoughts...

Black Swan.

Beautiful film.

Bad movie.

I make the distinction that a movie is something that you'd want to have your girlfriends around for; dudes on a sofa with a beer, or a moment of escapism, adventure, entertainment and thrills that you want to relive and explore. It might make you think, laugh, or cry, but it's story and entertainment at its core (for me... this is not a Webster definition).

A film, however, is a piece of art. Every moment is thought of at length, details are never accidental, and camera angles mean something. A film can be a movie, and a movie can be a film, but some are just movies (Center Stage, Speed Racer, Sixteen Candles), and some are just films (Talk to Her, A Clockwork Orange). Black Swan is a brilliant film. Not such a good movie.

I do not want to relive this film. I found my stomach in knots for the full two hours.  I was looking inward at my own demons, breathing with her, moving with her, on the verge of some tragic or wonderful emotion throughout the whole thing... all things that signify a great film.  I do love it when I need a moment to collect myself during the credits before leaving. At this point, it's hard for me to not overanalyse a film and lose myself in a story, so when something does affect me like that, I like it. It means it has done something to allow me to transcend the audience member role that I am filling, and instead, forces me to exist in that film in some capacity.  That's a great film.

Great moments:

The pervasiveness of the Swan imagery and sounds was incredible. The tune on her music box, the tone on her cell phone, the original score took multiple themes from Tchaikovsky's score and reinterpreted it; manipulated and contorted it so it was throughout the entire film, and the repetitiveness of it started to add to the maniacal basketcase-ness of it as well. It was all you heard, it was in your head, driving, pounding, and wearing you down. Image-wise, it was the stuffed toys in her perpetual-child bedroom, the tile behind her head in the bath tub, the gooseflesh (swan flesh) that rippled over her body, and the feathers and costumes-- feathers on her scarf, the white swan dress at the gala, and Lily's black dress there as well contrasting her; also the black top from Lily that she put on when they went out for drinks and psychedelic encounters. It was the black on the white, infiltrating her psyche and therefore her performance.

Plus the camera work. It was often very close-up, and almost always moving. That gives the feeling of being unsettled, and not sure of what's going on, because we can only see what is really close. It was invading my personal space. I kept wanting to take a step backwards to view the scene, but I couldn't which forced me into a bit of the maniacal headspace that Portman occupied. It also kept moving (a hand-held camera) thus making it unstable, dizzying and confusing at times.

And of course the special effects. Lily morphing into Nina and vice versa, which always makes you as a viewer question what is real and what is not. The painting shifted, the shadows moved, and the reflections in the mirrors did not match the human figure in front of them (this has always scared me... I shall avoid mirrors for a week or so).

And her eye makeup. I want to do that eye makeup. At least once in my life.

All in all I enjoyed the final experience because it moved me as good art should. Good cinema, theater, or music is often akin to a religious experience to me; I experience something outside of myself that makes me look inward. This, although it made me think of unsettling and disturbing elements of human nature, it still evoked that reaction from me, which I find impressive in a work of film.

I definitely recommend seeing it, but not if you have any history of mental health issues.  The gorgeous dancing is not enough to overshadow the dark exploration into Nina's psyche!